228 A BOOK OF WHALES 



to an observation by the Rev. G. Beardsworth* that 

 an example of Hyperoodon "sobbed." 



The third genus of this family, BERARDIUS, may be 

 thus defined : Skull very symmetrical ; nasals massive, 

 forming its vertex ; maxillae with a rugose eminence ; 

 mesethmoid only partially ossified. Teeth two on 

 each side of lower jaw, pointed with apices directed 

 forward. Vertebral formula : C. 7 ; D. 10 ; L. 12 ; Ca. 

 19 = 48 ; first three cervicals fused. Sternum of five 

 pieces. Eight ribs two-headed. 



As this genus consists of but one species, which has 

 been thoroughly studied, the main features in its 

 description will be considered under the description 

 of the species instead of here. It must be observed, 

 however, that we do not at present know whether the 

 rudimentary teeth present in the jaws of Mesoplodon 

 are also present in Berardius. Attention should also 

 be directed to the fact that a specimen in the Welling- 

 ton Museum has but one tooth on each side of each 

 mandible, hence it is clearly rash to attempt to define 

 the Ziphioid whales by the characters of their teeth 

 alone. 



Berardius arnouxi, Duvernoy.t As is unfortu- 

 nately the case with other whales, but little is known 

 of the appearance and habits of this the largest of 

 the Ziphioids. Indeed, there are but three records 



* Proc. Zool. Soc., 1860, p. 373. 

 t Ann. Sci. Nat., 1851, p. 52. 



